Lost Wolf (Curse of the Moon Book 1) (2 page)

"You've got it." I studied my eyes to make sure the liner was even.

She left the room, closing the door.

I put the lid on and dropped it, finally allowing myself to let my realization sink in. My hands shook. How could I have no memories? Nothing. And how could I have not realized it sooner? I'd pulled into the driveway of the Waldensian and gotten out, knowing exactly what I was doing. But without a single memory from before.

My Jaguar had been packed full of my belongings—everything I would need for a successful year of college. And clearly, I knew the skills I needed. I was a pro at applying makeup, had great fashion sense, and could text like it was nobody's business.

Did I have a mom and a dad? I had to have, but trying to remember only made my head hurt. I went into my purse and dug around, finding credit and debit cards, a driver's license, and everything else that seemed to prove I was a real person with a past. Except without any clues. The only address listed was for here at the mansion.

No clues to my previous life.

I grabbed my phone and went to my contacts. Only my roommates. There were no apps for social media, either. No photos. I hadn't subscribed to any podcasts or put anything in the notes. The only thing remotely personal was the downloaded songs, but those didn't tell me anything other than the fact that I liked popular music.

Whatever past I'd had was gone, or was at least out of my reach.

How could I remember
nothing
?

What was going on? What could have possibly happened to make me forget everything?

A crash sounded outside. I went over to the window and looked into the backyard. Someone had knocked over a tin garbage can and a couple large guys were picking up the contents. The yard was filled with people.

I needed to get out there. If I couldn't remember my past, I needed to focus on the present, and that meant making lots of friends. Later, I would worry about trying to figure out why I had no memories. I finished getting ready and headed downstairs, eager to make college the best time of my life—not that I had much to compare it against.

Outside, all the food had been moved to a plastic folding table. I grabbed a paper plate and filled it, finding my appetite returning.

Landon turned to me with a smile. "What kind of patty?"

"Whatever's ready now." I held out my plate and he plopped one on my bun.

"Enjoy."

"Thanks." I found an empty plastic chair and scarfed the food down, listening to the conversation all around me. Everyone was talking about college life—sports, parties, class schedules, instructors.

Relief washed through me. Maybe having no past wouldn't be such a big deal. I couldn't hear one person discussing life back home. But of course, they were probably glad to be away. Would I ever discover my past?

"Hey, beautiful," came a deep voice on my left.

I turned and smiled at the bronzed, muscular, drop-dead gorgeous guy taking a seat next to me.

"Hi." I swallowed the last bite of my burger, trying not to stare at him. My eyes didn't want to cooperate.

He grinned, showing off perfect teeth. "What is someone as beautiful as you doing, sitting here by yourself?"

My face heated. "I-I… well, uh…" I paused and took a deep breath. "Let me start over. I figured I'd eat first and then talk to people."

He balanced his plate on his knees and held out his hand, acting as if I hadn't just made a complete fool of myself. "Then I'm in luck. I'm Carter. You are?"

"Victoria." I shook his hand. At least I had a name, even if no past. "What year are you?"

"Just a lowly sophomore," he said, with a hint of teasing in his voice.

"You went here last year?" I asked.

He nodded and bit into his hot dog. "You new?"

"Yeah. A super-lowly freshman."

Carter laughed. "You'll love it. I was kind of worried about the location—you know, small town and all that—but it's cool. Lots of parties. Seattle's not that far, but I think I only went there twice all last year." He stuffed the rest of the frank in his mouth.

"What are you studying?" I asked. Why couldn't I think of anything more interesting to talk about? I'd send him running before long.

He groaned and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I have to declare soon. My dad's all over me about that. I have no idea what I want to do, you know?"

"What classes did you like last year? Maybe you could go in one of those directions."

"That's easy. Art history."

"I sense a but."

"That's not going to go over with my dad." His body tensed.

"So? Do what you want. It's your life."

Carter laughed bitterly. "If I major in art, they'll cut me off financially. Probably even take away my car."

"Oh."

"Do you know what you're going to study?" He twisted the cap off a beer and held it toward me.

I shook my head. "No thanks."

"Don't like beer?"

My mouth dropped. "I…"

"Oh, I get it. You're a wine cooler kind of girl." His face brightened. "I should have known you'd want something sweet." He winked.

Before I could reply, Carter jumped up and dug into a cooler. He pulled out something pink and tossed the lid into the garbage and handed it to me.

"Thanks." I sipped it. It tasted like strawberries.

Carter grinned. "See? Too classy for a regular beer."

How sad was it that a complete stranger knew what I liked better than I did?

"Of course someone as sweet as you would prefer those. You up for a dance tonight?"

"Which one is that?" I sipped the drink, hoping it would relax my nerves.

Carter leaned closer. "You can come as my guest. It's a really private, exclusive club. It's called the Jag."

I nearly choked on the drink. The Jag? Like my car was a Jaguar?

"Are you okay?" Carter's eyes widened.

"Started to go down the wrong way. I'm fine." I cleared my throat.

"Do you want to go with me?"

The club's name might have been a coincidence, but I had to find out. "I'd love to."

He smiled, leaned back, and sipped his beer. "Awesome. I thought I might have to go stag, but now I get to accompany the most beautiful girl in town."

My face flushed with heat. "What time? What should I wear?"

"I'll pick you up at seven. Wear the nicest dress you have. Like I said, it's very exclusive." He held my gaze.

"Mind my asking how you got in?"

Carter glanced to the side, a slight frown appearing. "My dad owns the place."

I stared at him, trying to put it all together. "Your dad?"

"Now you see why an art degree wouldn't fly. I pretty much have to choose business—or something closely related. As the oldest son, it's expected that I'll take it over."

"That seems…" I searched for the right word.

"Old school?"

"Yeah." I set my empty bottle on the ground.

"It is, but our family goes way back."

"But can't you just, I don't know, do what you want?" I asked.

"Then I'd have to start over with nothing. Dad won't just cut me off from finances, he'll find a way to make sure I can't get a job any higher than a janitor at a poop farm."

"Poop farm?" I laughed.

He shrugged.

"I've heard working there really sucks. Especially for the janitors."

The corners of his mouth twitched. "You get my point."

"Basically, he has the power to blackball you, no matter where you go?"

"Yep."

"That's harsh."

"It is what it is. So, you'll be ready at seven?" He rose and took my empty plate from me.

"Ten minutes early." I smiled.

"Perfect." He threw the trash away and then came back. "I'm actually looking forward to the party tonight. Thank you."

"No, thank
you
. It sounds like quite the opportunity."

"I guarantee all your friends will be jealous. Well, I have to get going. See you tonight."

"Wait."

"Yeah?"

"Don't you want to exchange numbers?"

He twisted a silver ring on his middle finger and his expression tightened. "Right. Of course." He pulled out his phone from his back pocket. The case appeared to be gold plated. He slid his finger around the screen. "What's your number?"

Feeling stupid, I pulled out mine and went into my contact list to find my number. I told him, and a few moments later, my phone rang. "Got it."

"Awesome. See you in a few hours."

"A few?" I exclaimed.

He glanced at the screen. "Okay, five."

"See you then." I leaned back and sighed. For someone with no past, things were working out pretty well. I had a date with a gorgeous guy at an exclusive club.

With nothing remotely close to nice enough to wear.

Sasha sat in the chair Carter had been in. "Who was the hottie?"

"Apparently my date tonight."

She squealed. "Where to?"

"Somewhere called the Jag. I'm going to need to get a formal dress."

Her eyes lit up. "Shopping trip!" She pulled me up to standing. We went up to our room to grab our purses and then headed for her car. She rattled on about parties and dances coming up. I wasn't sure how we'd fit any studying or sleeping into our schedules with so many social activities.

It was nice to have something else to focus on other than my past—or lack thereof.

I had a blast trying on dresses. Sasha and I snapped pictures of each other in all the ones we liked. I ended up choosing a floor-length teal one with straps that criss-crossed in the back and a shimmery bodice.

"You're sickeningly beautiful," Sasha said.

"Uh, thanks?"

She nudged me and snickered. "That's a compliment."

"Then you're sickeningly stunning."

Sasha beamed. "You're the best. What did you think of that white dress on me?"

"The one with the lace?" I asked and went back into my dressing room.

"Yeah. Did it look too much like a wedding dress?"

"Not at all."

"I'm going to get it. I heard the sororities host formal dances all the time. We can pretend to be potential recruits."

"Sounds like fun," I agreed. "As long as there aren't any initiations involved."

"During a dance?" The door closed in the next dressing room. "If that happens, we'll hightail out of there."

"Okay. I may as well get as much use out of this dress as possible for what it costs."

When we got back home, the backyard was even more crowded. Landon came in and washed his hands as we passed the kitchen.

He glanced at me. "I saw you talking to Carter Jag."

I stumbled into Sasha, unable to believe what I'd just heard. "What did you say?"

Landon's brows squished together. "I saw you talking with Carter Jag earlier."

I gasped for air. His
last name
was Jag?

Heart thundering, I stared between the two of them. The room spun. I took a deep breath to keep from running out of the room.

Chapter 3

"Yeah," Landon said. "His family owns—"

"The Jag." I leaned against the wall for support.

What was the deal with jaguars showing up everywhere?

"Right. He and all the super-rich kids always hang out together. I've never seen him at any of my parties. In fact, I can't say I've even seen him talking to any of my friends."

I swallowed. "Interesting. He probably doesn't invite people to parties at the Jag, either, does he?"

Landon's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "Did he…?"

"He's picking me up at seven." I bit my lower lip.

"Really?" Landon stepped closer to me. "Get pictures. Lots of 'em."

"Okay."

"No, I'm serious. There are so many rumors about that place, but I've never seen so much as a picture of the inside. No one else has that I know of, either."

Sasha stared at me. "How'd you manage to get into the most exclusive place on the peninsula?"

"You've got me. Carter just invited me."

"Find out if he has any brothers."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "He said he's the oldest brother."

She grabbed my arm. "Come on. We've got to get you ready."

"Right." I opened my eyes and followed her upstairs, lost in thought. How could a girl with no past find herself with an invite to the Jag? Unless it was some cosmic joke. Either it was, or going there would shed some light on what was going on.

There were too many jaguar references for it to be a coincidence.

Once in our room, Sasha pulled out her phone and scrolled around the screen. "There's a makeup tutorial we've got to follow. You're going to be so hot, you'll set the place on fire."